Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007. This companion legislation to the work of my friends Senator Klobuchar, Senator Lieberman, and Senator Alexander reflects an effective, equitable alternative to the current system used to determine presidential primary election dates. As we have seen with the current disputed primary date in Florida and its partisan implications, our political parties have shown that they may not be the most appropriate administrators of this vital part of the presidential election process. Other states face similar disputes as each vie to enact earlier primaries to increase their influence in the selection of presidential candidates. It is apparent that with this trend, money is gaining even more influence in politics. When candidates have less time for citizens to evaluate their merit and less time to raise necessary campaign funds, the voices of many continue to be marginalized. We need a more equitable system. Every person in every state deserves an equal opportunity to engage the selection of presidential candidates. Unless we enact legislation to restructure this system in a non-partisan manner, we will never have a system that takes into account the true principles of democracy upon which this nation was founded. The Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007 is a necessary step towards more equitable elections. This legislation reflects components of a plan previously advanced by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the suggestions of chief election administrators throughout the nation. The Regional Presidential Primary and Caucus Act of 2007 establishes four geographic regions and four regional primary/caucus dates in each presidential election year. Under the bill, beginning in 2012 and on a rotating basis during each presidential election year, states in one region will hold their presidential primary elections on the first Tuesday in March. States in the next region will hold their primary elections on the first Tuesday in April, states in the next region on the first Tuesday in May, and states in the final region on the first Tuesday of June. The order of regions will rotate in each of the four years, ensuring that all states have the opportunity to hold their primary election first in the cycle once every four presidential elections. I call upon my colleagues of the House of Representatives to support this commonsense approach to improving the administration of presidential primary election dates.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, just before Congress returned to session this week, our Nation lost a gentleman who served with distinction in this body for 26 years and whose name became forever associated with the human rights struggle in the former Soviet Union. Congressman Charles Vanik served his constituents of the Cleveland, OH, area from 1955 to 1981. In 1968, he voluntarily gave up his seat in a district that had become primarily African-American to allow my good friend and our former colleague, Mr. Louis Stokes, an opportunity to serve in the Congress. It says something for Mr. Vanik's reputation as a conscientious and hard-working Member that he could switch to a nearby district, defeat a long-time incumbent of the other major party, and return to Congress. I did not know Mr. Vanik personally, but as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am particularly familiar with his contribution to the struggle to allow Soviet Jews to leave the Soviet Union and emigrate to Israel. In the early 1970s, Soviet Jews who wished to emigrate to Israel faced government harassment and even prison terms in one of the many labor camps stretched along the eleven time zones of the Soviet Union. This issue became especially acute in 1972 when the Soviet government announced it would level an onerous ``education tax'' on Soviet Jews who wished to emigrate. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade of the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Vanik stepped up to sponsor an amendment to the Trade Reform Bill of 1974 introduced by Senator Henry Jackson of Washington State. This amendment linked awarding Most Favored Nation trade status to a nation's record on unhindered emigration for its citizens. President Nixon and Mr. Kissinger didn't like it, but it was a law whose time had come. In the years that followed its passage, through detente and the tense days of United States-Soviet relations in the early 1980s, the Jackson- Vanik Amendment became a powerful symbol of the Congress' determination to see that the Soviet Union lived up to the Helsinki Accords. Today, Madam Speaker, the Cold War is over, the Soviet Union is happily no more, Jewish citizens of Russia, the successor state to the Soviet Union, are free to emigrate to Israel or any other nation that will grant an entry visa. Ironically, Congress has not yet fully ``graduated'' Russia from the provisions of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. I do hope that, regardless of the many difficulties in relations with Russia that we are now experiencing, we will be able to do so in the near future. I am sure Chairman Vanik would agree with me. Madam Speaker, although I was not acquainted with Chairman Vanik, I know that he left a legacy of deep respect when he retired from this august body. May we all serve our constituents, our Nation, and all those with whom we share this planet as conscientiously as he did.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. There is a requirement for countries to participate in the extractive industries reporting. Basically what we are doing is, for the first time, asking the Secretary of State to encourage countries to participate in EITI. EITI is to be renewed on September 30. And if we nudge some countries, without mentioning names, some of them may very well determine to participate. That way we will have more assurance of our energy supplies and try, as best we can, not to participate in the future with foreign corrupt governments.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is aimed at combating corruption in energy-exporting countries and promoting a global energy security. In my capacity as chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I have held a series of hearings on the issue of global energy security. I offer this amendment today as a culmination of findings from those hearings. This amendment encourages international participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and similar efforts. This amendment will increase the accountability of where our energy comes from by urging international disclosure of energy transactions and requiring the Secretary of State to submit an annual report on EITI compliance. It also states that it is the power of the United States to decrease reliance, energy reliance on corrupt foreign governments. I thank Chairmen Lantos and Dingell and my colleagues of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the staff of the Helsinki Commission, and mine, for their anticipated support. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment and the underlying legislation. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to the H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act. The purpose of this amendment is two-fold: to combat corruption in energy-exporting countries and to promote democracy and the rule of law in these countries as well. In my capacity as Chairman of the bipartisan, bicameral Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), I have held a series of hearings on the issue of global energy security in the 110th Congress. The topics of those hearings have spanned the vast diversity energy concerns of the 56 CSCE member nations. I offer this amendment today as a culmination of findings from those hearings. The United States is the world's largest consumer of oil, accounting for 25 percent of global daily oil demand, despite having less than 3 percent of the world's proven reserves. As a result, we are increasingly dependent on foreign sources of energy. Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, the countries that the U.S. has become dependent on for that energy are not reliable politically. In fact, only two of the world's top 10 exporters, Norway and Mexico, are established democracies. The non-democratic exporting countries face political instability, which pose a serious threat to the supply and transit of the oil and gas that America runs on. While it is imperative that we work to limit our dependence on foreign oil and change the dynamic of supply and demand, it is just as important to create more stable and reliable sources of energy. As the National Petroleum Council recently reported, ``There can be no U.S. energy security without global energy security.'' Mr. Chairman, my amendment meets our objective of global energy security by supporting international participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and similar efforts. This amendment also urges these countries to establish domestic reporting requirements for all companies that purchase natural resources or make payments connected with the extraction of such resources to increase the accessibility of these transactions for accountable monitoring. My amendment further requires that the Secretary of State submit to the Congress an annual report which details the United States' own participation in the Extractive Industries transparency Initiative, as well as our bilateral and multilateral diplomatic efforts to further global participation in EITI. This annual report would also entail other U.S. initiatives to strengthen energy security, deter energy kleptocracy, and promote transparency in the extractive industries. Finally, my amendment states that it is the energy policy of the United States ``to increase energy security by decreasing energy reliance on corrupt foreign governments.'' Mr. Chairman, in order to have a comprehensive energy security policy for the nation, we must develop a complete strategy to improve transparency and accountability in oil-exporting states. My amendment will do just that. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying legislation. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Extractive practices, if the gentleman would yield.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to express my concern for diminishing access to higher education opportunities. We live in a country where the education system is flawed from the ground up. The lack of proper instruction throughout elementary, middle, and secondary school has left many of the under-represented minorities even further behind their classmates. The lack of provisions and support provided to schools in historically black neighborhoods has caused the number of African-Americans applying and enrolled in professional schools to drop. The number of African-Americans in both the medical and legal professions is anemic compared to the number that live in our country. Even though African Americans make up over 13 percent of the country's population, a recent study found that they make up only 3.9 percent of lawyers and 3.3 percent of physicians. Madam Speaker, there are a multitude of reasons as to why African- American presence in law school dropped from 7.5 percent to 6.8 percent from 1994 to 2004. Many blame the law school admissions' over-reliance on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). This test, which has never been proven to be a successful forecaster of achievement in law school or aptitude as a lawyer, usually makes up over half the criteria that law school admissions counselors use to base their admissions decisions on. The inflated dependence on the LSAT, which studies show is in and of itself biased, has led to a sharp decline of both applications and enrollment by African-Americans into law school. The necessity for schools to raise the median LSAT scores of the applicants they accept has caused a dramatic drop in the number of African-American law school students. In a study from 2002 to 2004, the 25th percentile LSAT score for law schools in my home State of Florida rose from 149 to 151. In that same time period, African- American enrollment in Florida law school dropped from 557 to 508 students, or nearly 10 percent, while total enrollment rose by 14 percent. Madam Speaker, we need to challenge this disturbing trend or we are facing a future in which there is a complete lack of African-American presence in the legal world. This trend challenges the right of African-Americans to engage in the legal process of this great Nation. One major issue that we can influence is the lack of support and education for those interested in a career in law. Many young African- American high school and college students have not had the exposure or have become discouraged by the mass of reports of diminishing African American law school enrollment. With encouragement from current black lawyers and those in support of more diversity in the legal profession, we can help build a proper education system for all students of this Nation. This is not just about law school. We need to work together, from as early as elementary school, to provide the necessary tools to challenge the current pattern of disinvestment in education. Our educational system must give everyone the proper training and experience necessary to enter higher education and, someday, the professional world.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, today marks the 32nd anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which ushered in civil and political liberties for millions of oppressed Europeans. Most importantly, the Helsinki Final Act created a strong international framework that continues to promote liberty and peace in a region that extends beyond the traditional boundaries of Europe. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the U.S. Helsinki Commission, which I am privileged to chair, serve as invaluable institutions which ensure that countries honor their Helsinki Final Act commitments. The U.S. Helsinki Commission is proud of our role as the conduit between both Houses of the U.S. Congress, the Executive Branch, foreign governments and civil society. As President Gerald Ford said during the Helsinki Accords, ``History will judge this conference not by what we say here today, but by what we do tomorrow, not by the promises we make, but by the promises we keep.'' We continue to respect this profound statement and we anticipate the spirit of President Ford's sentiments will continue to endure long after the death of the late former President. Fortunately, the spirit of the Helsinki Final Act remains strong. Overarching concerns for European security and liberty during the Cold War have evolved into regional energy security dilemmas, kleptocracy, and continued human rights violations. Moreover, Europe once again faces serious security concerns as Russia has suspended its obligations under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. Madam Speaker, we must never forget how valuable the process of engagement has served the interests of Europe and the United States in the past. Working together in an integrated framework of cooperation and security is our best hope for peace and justice. While the world has been changing at an ever increasing pace since 1975, our ideals and values remain entrenched in the commitments made under the Helsinki Final Act. Today we recognize the significant impact the Helsinki Final Act made in fostering a world with increased peace and justice. Today, Helsinki Human Rights Day, we honor our commitments and pledge vigilance in the quest for human rights, governmental accountability and cooperation for security throughout Europe, North America, Central Asia, and elsewhere in the world.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution congratulating the State of Israel on chairing a United Nations committee for the first time in history. For the first time ever, an Israeli diplomat, Mr. Ron Adam, Director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry's U.N. Political Affairs Department, has been chosen to chair a U.N. committee: the Committee on Program and Coordination, CPC. This 33 U.N. member body provides an important role to the functioning of the U.N., as it approves the work plan for all U.N. agencies and bodies. Mr. Adam is highly qualified to represent his country at the U.N. He was former director of the Israel Foreign Ministry's U.N. Political Affairs Department and had been at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1990. From 1998-2002, he was a Counselor at the Israeli delegation to the U.N. Since 2004, he served as the director of the U.N. Political Affairs Department, in the Division for the United Nations and International Organizations. Last year, Mr. Adam served as the deputy chair of the CPC, representing the European Group. Madam Speaker, Israel was accepted in 2000 as part of the Western Europe and Others Group, WEOG, giving it the right to apply for positions on U.N. committees. The country already sits on several important committees and representatives from Israel have served as deputy chairs in the United Nations numerous times. However, this marks the first time that an Israeli has been chosen to chair a United Nations committee. For far too long, Israel has been considered a second class nation at the United Nations, unfairly subjected to unjustified one sided attacks from other nations. The facts make the case themselves: 6 out of 10 emergency special sessions called by the United Nations General Assembly have directly condemned Israel, while no emergency sessions have been held against some of the world's worst cases of genocide or repressive regimes. Israel is also the only U.N. member state denied membership by all of the U.N.'s five regional groups which elect U.N. bodies in Geneva. Israel also remains the only country of the Western and Others Group to have a conditional status, thereby limiting its ability to caucus with its fellow members of this regional grouping, compete for open seats, or run for positions in major bodies of the United Nations. The fact that some member states have chosen to use the U.N. as an attack mechanism toward Israel while blatantly ignoring the despicable human rights records of other states truly undermines the United Nations' credibility, integrity and effectiveness. I am hopeful that Mr. Adam's appointment will help contribute to the normalization of Israel's bilateral and multilateral relations, as well as challenge future disproportionate United Nations condemnation of Israel. I am also hopeful that the newly appointed United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon will work to end any unfair vilification of Israel at the United Nations and to use his good offices to support Israel's bid to join the Asian regional grouping. Finally, I am hopeful that Israel will be granted membership on the Security Council for 2019 and gain full participation rights in the United Nations. I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the House Leadership to bring this legislation to the floor for its swift consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I continue to be astounded, particularly at the remarks of the distinguished ranking member of the committee that I serve on with him, that he would have us believe something different than what his proposal allows for. His proposal, or the proposal of the minority, would allow the Attorney General to do this, not lawyers. Madam Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the point person for every person in the House of Representatives on intelligence, the distinguished Chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Silvestre Reyes.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Excuse me.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to briefly describe this amendment to House Resolution 600. The amendment would add a third suspension measure to this resolution, a bill to provide assistance to Minnesota. This will allow the House to consider the Minnesota bridge disaster emergency relief legislation. I am sure that everyone here would urge that the reconstruction of the bridge that tragically collapsed on Wednesday be undertaken. While the minority has been engaging in manufactured obstructionism, the House has been denied the opportunity to act on the priorities of the American people. While the minority has been engaged in manufactured obstructionism, the House has enacted on legislation to require a comprehensive strategy to withdraw our troops from harm's way. While the minority has been engaged in manufacturing obstructionism, the House has not been able to act on FISA reform. Finally, while the minority has engaged in manufactured obstructionism, the House has not acted on providing emergency assistance to our fellow Americans who are grieving and suffering in Minnesota. Manufactured obstructionism is what they are doing, and the American people will not stand for it. By allowing this bill to come to the floor today, we can get this bill to the President's desk immediately. Whatever differences we have here today, this should be something we all can support. I hope my colleagues will support the amendment and the rule. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the amendment and on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment to the rule at the desk.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I do not. Amendment Offered by Mr. Hastings of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Chairman, what the gentleman just read was ordered to the White House by the National Intelligence Director. The Republican logic allows that what was acceptable yesterday is not acceptable today. Parliamentary Inquiry

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I object.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Thank you for yielding. It is in the hopper. The minority members of the Intelligence Committee have the measure.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. This matter is under suspension. My friend on the Rules Committee and I were there when it passed out of the Rules Committee on suspension, and that requirement is met.